Parking charges at PBH - I'm really irritated

[riggins]

Hi guys-
We just returned from a great trip - 7 nights at WDW at BWV, followed by 2 nights at US at PBH. We had a club level room at PBH and thought it was great. The room was nice, we had a great view of the harbor, the staff was excellent, and we enjoyed the club lounge.

We ate at the hotel both nights of our stay, the 1st at Trattoria del Porto and the 2nd at Mama Della's. Both nights, the person checking people in at the restaurant asked if we were staying at the hotel, and was validating the parking of those who were staying elsewhere. On check-out day, our statement included a total of $20 worth of parking charges. I thought it must be a mistake, so I headed to the front desk. I asked the person if it was an error, and she said no, there is a $10/night parking charge for all hotel guests. I explained that the restaurant patrons were able to park for free, and since we had dined at their hotel both nights, it would seem logical that we should park for free as well. She explained that restaurant guests' cars were in the parking lot for less time than mine, so rightfully, I should pay more. I attempted to restate the rationale - "The person who pays only the $75 for dinner parks for free, while the person who pays $75 for dinner plus $350 for the hotel room that night, should pay an additional $10 for the length of time the car was in the parking space." She said "Yes, that's right." If this is really their rationale, the should charge for parking by the hour - but I didn't get in to that with her - she's just the person at the desk, and my 3-year-old was ready to go.

If the hotel charged everyone for parking, I wouldn't be so irritated. Lots of hotels charge parking, and I don't have issue with the PBH doing so, but it is ridiculous and unfair how hotel guests pay more than visitors. So, just a warning to anyone who stays at PBH in the near future- when you check-in and they ask if you have a car with you, tell them no. You can simply have your parking ticket validated at the shops or restaurants that you'll probably be enjoying any way. Although, both times we left the hotel, the exit gates were open, and there was no need for a parking ticket anyway!

Best Wishes!
Leslie

 

[goNDmay9]

I did not know that visitors were not charged. I guess the only times i have been to the hotel is when I have been a guest.

That is very interesting. I always questioned the parking for the PAP holders too. We can park for free at the parks - why do we have to pay at the hotels? Or at least only charge us for the difference. I guess it is really the whole overnight parking that they are charging us for.

 

[mouse1]

I was very annoyed at the parking charges at PBH. We were there for about 6 days so we had to pay about 60.00.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We weren't happy with the $10 parking fee either, until we had to pay $50 per night to park at a hotel in New Orleans. After that, it's seems like a bargain.

 

[robvia]

I only stayed 2 nights, so it was $20.
If enough people complain, maybe they'll do something about it.
When I got home, there was an e-mail with a survey. I haven't filled it out yet, but maybe I will.
And yes, the exit side of the gate is stuck in the up position. So if you go, just drive thru the exit side and tell the hotel you don't have a car. That would probably work until they fix the exit side. They probably have a bunch of cars getting stuck at the exit, because you need a validated ticket to get out, and there is no human at the gate. At the RPR and HRH, there is a human in a guard shack.

 

[gschmerl]

There are a lot of places that charge for parking, but if ou eat at their restaurant, you can get your parking ticket "validated" and get free parking. This is not unique to the Universal Hotels. As far as PAP holders parking free at the Parking garage....the hotels are NOT affiliated with the Universal Parks, so your PAP won't get you free parking at the hotels.

 

[jalex0831]

I'm not sure what you mean theyre not affiliated. If you stay in one of the hotels, you get FOTL in the parks, so I would say they are definitely affiliated.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

There are a lot of places that charge for parking, but if ou eat at their restaurant, you can get your parking ticket "validated" and get free parking. This is not unique to the Universal Hotels.

It's very common for resorts to charge an additional nightly fee. Some call it a parking fee & others call it a resort fee. Most nice resorts now add the fee. At least, if they refer to it as a parking fee, you don't have to pay if you don't have a car. If it's considered a resort fee, everyone pays.

 

[rubberband1293]

Complaints will do nothing - neither USO nor Loew's owns the parking lots. I was slightly pissed, sorry, I mean ticked when I saw that I was charged $10.00 a day to park in the parking lot PLUS and additional .64 for "parking tax!!!!" and asked for an explanation. Seems several years ago, someone offered US a deal in that they would not have to worry about any upkeep, taxes, etc. of a parking lot, garage, deck as long as they were allowed to charge US's tenants. US accepted the deal. The owner of the parking lots pays all taxes, upkeep, resurfacing, etc. and US and the resorts pay nothing.

 

[goofy!]

You pay for parking no matter where you stay, whether it is built into the higher prices at WDW or broken out for separate payment such as at USO or Dolphin/Swan. Dolphin/Swan have the resort fee that everybody has to pay. Personally, I prefer the way USO does it, because if I don't have a car, I don't have to pay.

If Universal eliminated the parking fee, we would just see the nightly room charge jump $10.00 per night. Perhaps they should do this, as nobody would really notice a $10.00 jump, and nobody would complain that they are charging for parking.

However, I prefer to only pay for what I use, so give me Universal's system anyday.

 

[riggins]

My issue wasn't with the fee itself- as others have noted, lots of hotels charge for parking. My issue was that people staying elsewhere, but eating at the hotel, could park for free, while people eating and staying at the hotel had to pay. I too got the survey and completed it and was clear how I felt about it. In the future, I will either choose a different hotel, or lie about having a car and simply have the ticket validated when I eat at one of the restaurants. Its pathetic to have to lie to not be charged unfairly, but its their system, so I'll play along.

 

[goNDmay9]

I agree. I had long since accepted the parking charge - what was shocking to me was the visitors being able to validate. I really did not know that was happening and I found that to be very interesting.

 

[Lizziejane]

I'm confused about the PAP. It states "free self-parking every time you visit". Is the parking garage for the parks different than the parking at hotels if staying on-site?

 

[gschmerl]

I'm confused about the PAP. It states "free self-parking every time you visit". Is the parking garage for the parks different than the parking at hotels if staying on-site?

Yes. Each hotel has it's own parking lot. The parking lot that is free with a PAP is the one for the parks.

 

[Lizziejane]

Thanks gschmerl. I should have known the notion of free parking was too good to be true!

 

[Motherfletcher]

If this is really their rationale, the should charge for parking by the hour - but I didn't get in to that with her - she's just the person at the desk...

They do charge by the hour to ward off those that may park in their garage and eat in the restaurant and then go to the parks for a few hours.

We are going to Loew's Miami Beach next month and valet is mandatory at $30/ night and the Emeril's there doesn't validate.